TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts amassed
a career-best 154 rushing yards to go along with two scores
on the ground and one through the air as the top-ranked
University of Alabama football team dominated Fresno State,
41-10, in the Crimson Tide's 2017 home opener at
Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Hurts' career day on the ground marked his fourth 100-yard
rushing game at Alabama. The Houston native's previous
career high came last season on Sept. 17 against Ole Miss
when he compiled 146 rushing yards in a 48-43 victory.

Hurts also went 14-of-18 for 128 yards and a touchdown
through the air to lead the Tide offense. With 231 yards
of total offense in the first half, Hurts surpassed 4,000
yards of total offense in his Alabama career. Freshman Najee
Harris led all running backs with 70 yards on 13 carries in
the win.

The Crimson Tide (2-0) outgained the Bulldogs (1-1) in total
offense, 497-274, including 305-58 on the ground.

Sophomore defensive lineman Raekwon Davis and junior
defensive back Ronnie Harrison led the Alabama defense
with a team-high eight tackles apiece while redshirt senior
defensive back Anthony Averett compiled four tackles to go
along with an interception.

Alabama only needed two plays to score the first touchdown
of the game after returning Fresno State's opening kickoff
to the UA 27-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage,
Hurts threw a screen pass to senior wide receiver Cam Sims
for an 18-yard gain. Hurts followed that with a 55-yard
touchdown scamper on the next play, outracing three Fresno
State defenders into the end zone to give the Tide a 7-0
lead over the Bulldogs with 14:21 left in the opening
quarter.

After a Fresno State three-and-out, Alabama started its
second drive of the game on its own 38-yard line. Facing
a third-and-10, Hurts accelerated up the middle for a
17-yard gain to keep the Tide drive alive. With the ball on
the Fresno State 25, junior running back Bo Scarbrough
converted a fourth-and-one to once again give the Tide a
fresh set of downs. On the following play, Hurts found a
wide-open junior tight end Hale Hentges down the seam for
a 23-yard touchdown pass, putting the Tide up 14-0 with
8:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Fresno State responded by going 70 yards on nine plays to
set up a 27-yard field goal, making it 14-3 Alabama with
4:03 left in the first quarter.

The Tide answered right back with a scoring drive of its
own, marching 75 yards on 11 plays, capped by Hurts second
rushing touchdown of the game, giving Alabama a 21-3 lead
with 14:25 left in the first half.

Following back-to-back Bulldog punts, the Crimson Tide drove
the ball down the field with ease, using six plays and
amassing 77 yards in just 2:29, finishing the drive with a
five-yard touchdown run by junior running back Damien
Harris. Alabama held a 28-3 lead over Fresno State at the
half.

The two teams traded punts to begin the second half, before
the Tide gained 53 yards on 11 plays, to set up senior place
kicker Andy Pappanastos for a 24-yard field goal, extending
the Alabama lead to 31-3 with 2:03 remaining in the third
quarter. During that drive, Hurts went over 3,000 career
passing yards.

In the fourth quarter, with the Bulldogs controlling the
ball at their own 20-yard line, Averett, picked off a Fresno
State pass at the 34-yard line and returned it 30 yards to
the UA 4-yard line. The interception led to a Pappanastos
22-yard field goal, pushing the Tide lead to 34-3 with 7:08
left in the game.

Late in the contest, Fresno State used a 26-yard touchdown
pass to cut the Alabama lead to 34-10 with 6:06 remaining in
the contest.

The Tide offense responded with freshman quarterback Tua
Tagovailoa leading Alabama down the field covering 75 yards
in eight plays, capping the drive with 16-yard touchdown
pass to freshman wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. It was the
first Crimson Tide touchdown for both Tagovailoa and Ruggs.
Alabama's 41-10 lead held up over the final 2:41 of the
game.

Alabama returns to action Saturday, Sept. 16, with its
second home game in a row, against Colorado State at
Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT with
the game airing live on either ESPN or ESPN2.

For all the latest information on the team by following
@AlabamaFTBL on Twitter, AlabamaFBL on Instagram and
AlabamaFootball on Facebook. General athletics news can
also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and
AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.